Adiós John Havlicek, after 31 years teaching at Central High

La Crosse County Dem Party chair Molling on local Assembly races, state convention recap, data centers

La Crosse County Democratic Party chair Wyatt Molling was in studio last week for the Rick Solem Show discussing the friction between the state and local party over reaching rural voters. We recapped the state convention and why everyday voters don't look like convention diehards, plus the split over Gov. Tony Evers' budget surplus deal. And, we closed with some rapid-fire over everything from data centers to Trump and the World Cup. We start though talking about Molling getting into politics and taking over role as chair in January. After, we dive into the three Assembly seats defining La Crosse County, looking closely at the different rural landscapes facing Steve Doyle, Jill Billings and Tara Johnson. Molling airs some frustration with the state party on reaching voters in these districts that have all been redrawn. From there, we discuss the state Democratic convention. Molling is asked about the WisPolitics governor's race straw poll that had heads turning. He explains the mindset of convention-goers versus regular voters in regards to the poll and we get into the resolutions the party comes up with at the convention. We also hit the optics surrounding Evers’ multi-billion-dollar budget surplus package and why local Democrats split on the final vote. To wrap up, we put Molling through a lightning-round of national and local headlines, including data center moratoriums — which the La Crosse County Board has passed — as well as the controversial $300 billion Iran memorandum, gas prices and why Donald Trump hoisting the FIFA World Cup trophy could get incredibly awkward. See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

Pools, polls and Packers with UW-L political scientist Chergosky

UW-La Crosse political science professor, Dr. Anthony Chergosky, in studio to help weave a discussion about the La Crosse pool poll, the Democratic convention governor straw poll and the Packers fighting with one Wisconsin US House member. We did start the show, though, talking quick about not being a sports fan but being excited about something like the World Cup — plus the Loggers having Catbirds throwback night. The poll conversation stems partly from the results from a survey [https://www.wizmnews.com/2026/06/18/la-crosse-park-board-reviews-north-side-pool-survey-results/] of La Crosse residents about building a new indoor aquatics center, where about 52 percent were in favor — with 14% of those asked responding. Another aspect came from a straw poll last weekend at the Wisconsin Democratic Party convention that had Mandela Barnes sixth out of seven governor candidates. We break down how these polls could be written and conducted — perhaps to gain favorability for a specific outcome — and how much stock we should take in the results. We also discuss how some polls — like the pool survey — might be sent out partly to inform people a thing is happening that they didn’t know about — and therefore the wording of those questions comes back into play. We also look at how Wisconsin Republicans put Constitutional Amendments on the ballot that are often seen as confusing and steering the voting population into getting the results the GOP wants. Lastly, we talked about the Packers pushing back against how US House Rep. Scott Fitzgerald (R-Clyman) is looking into the Sports Broadcasting Act of 1961, and this idea that TV deals have isolated Packers fans who need to subscribe to networks to watch certain games. Or — throwing this conspiracy at Chergosky — is this a deep political ploy to prop up fellow GOP US House Reps. Derrick Van Orden (R-Prairie du Chien) and Bryan Steil (R-Janesville), who have sided with the Packers saying what Fitzgerald is doing would hurt the team. See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

Wisconsin state Sen. Pfaff on data centers, no tax on tips/OT deal, concert tickets

Wisconsin state Sen. Brad Pfaff in studio discussing A.I. data centers, the budget surplus deal and — with Alabama and Megadeath coming to La Crosse — ticket prices and third-party sellers. Pfaff also came in hyped that June is dairy month and will be hosting a dairy breakfast from 6-11 a.m. at Creamery Creek Farms in Bangor. When it comes to legislation, though, the state did nothing the last two years with data centers, as multiple counties in Pfaff’s district debate moratoriums and study committees to address the issue. Democrats and Republicans had data center proposals, but neither passed the Legislature, which has now been out of session since March. Pfaff also talked about voting against the budget surplus deal that was negotiated in private between Gov. Tony Evers and Republican legislators, Robin Vos and Devin LeMahieu. The deal included no tax on tips/overtime, $300 checks and one year of special education funding and property tax relief. It was introduced to the public Monday and the Legislature voted on it two days later. After that, the Legislative Fiscal Bureau came out with a report that the deal would have put Wisconsin in a structural budget deficit.  Before the data center conversation, we did talk about the Tank Creek Bridge that an arsonist burned down last year — part of the Great River Trail in La Crosse County. We had some fun to begin the show, first asking what Pfaff was doing the last time Alabama came to the La Crosse Center in 1984. He revealed his first-ever concert was at the La Crosse Center but a year later — Huey Lewis and the News.  With Alabama in town Sept. 10 [https://www.wizmnews.com/2026/06/16/country-legends-alabama-at-the-la-crosse-center-in-september/] — tickets just went on sale — and Megadeth at the Oktobefest Grounds [https://www.957therock.com/megadeth/] on July 31, Pfaff also discussed whether the state needs to look into third-party ticket sellers and if there needs to be some laws created to protect concert goers. Viterbo University brought this issue [https://www.wizmnews.com/2025/07/25/buyer-beware/] up in the past, where these third-parties rip people off on ticket prices. See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

7-time logrolling world Livi Pappadopoulos joins ahead of Saturday's La Crosse Open

The logrolling champion of the world, seven years running, La Crosse’s own Livi Pappadopoulos, in studio to hype up Saturday’s La Crosse Open and give us the inside scoop on how she dominates the sport. Pappadopoulos owns Coulee Region Logrolling, and it’s hosting the 25th annual La Crosse Open, beginning at 10 a.m. at the Pettibone Lagoon. She tells us what to expect during the event, who might give her fits on the water, and some insider tips on what she sees on the log to get her opponent to fall. Pappadopoulos also talks about Coulee Region Logrolling and invites anybody to get involved here. See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

La Crosse's mayor on library closure, Emerson historic status and public market plans

What happens next now that the north side library is officially closed? La Crosse Mayor Shaundel Washington-Spivey in studio Monday to break down the city's next steps, explaining the upcoming request for proposals (RFP) process and addressing the transparency questions surrounding the three groups that have already expressed interest in the building. Before that, though, we discussed the narrative that the city is “on (the) attack” against the North Side regarding the pool and library closures — with the Northside Neighborhood Center expressing its frustration [https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1JYZqJTGv8/] on the library sale. We then shifted to why the city council stripped Emerson Elementary School of its historic designation. We ended the show, circling back to what the mayor would like to see get done, which included bringing a public market to La Crosse — and what that would look like for him. The hour also highlighted Washington-Spivey's excitement for celebrating Juneteenth on Saturday in Riverside Park. See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.